More Letters to the Editor - October 28, 2010

The following letter to the voters of Belknap County District 4 (Laconia):

This letter is submitted in support of Representative Beth Arsenault, a candidate for re-election to the NH House of Representatives from Laconia.

Rep. Arsenault has served in the NH Legislature and as a member of the Children and Family Law Committee for two terms, (2007-2010). As chair of the Children and Family Law Committee, I have valued Rep. Arsenault's knowledge, thoughtfulness, dedication and especially her skill in analyzing proposed legislation.

Rep. Arsenault involvement in community activities, the Laconia School Board in particular, combined with her interest in juvenile justice make her well qualified to engage in discussions and decisions related to children and family law. She has willingly accepted assignments to serve on subcommittees to further research and study legislation. Her ability to ask public members questions in hearings in a sensitive and respectful manner is admirable.

Citizens in Laconia are well-represented by Beth Arsenault. Her attendance in committees, special and general sessions is excellent. In addition, she participates in legislative leadership activities and is always available to take on extra work.

She is concerned about our children's futures and has contributed expertise and experience to ensure that they will enjoy the same quality of life as we share today.

Please vote to re-elect Beth Arsenault to the NH House of Representatives on November 2nd.

Rep. Mary Stuart Gile, Chair

Children and Family Law Committee

NH House of Representatives

Concord

@Brief head:Extreme measures

Editor, The Citizen:

A recent article in the media mentioned that Democrat House Speaker Nancy Pelosi wants to schedule a vote on a bill, after election day, which would provide a $250 bonus payment to Social Security recipients.

Ms Pelosi, it looks like you are trying to buy the Social Security recipients votes for your Democrat candidates on election day!

How sad it is when you have to go to these extreme measures to get a vote!

Hopefully the Republicans will help you keep your promise after election day.

Bill Whalen

Sanbornton

@Brief head:Support Smith

Editor, The Citizen:

The voters of Plymouth and Hebron have a clear choice to reelect Suzanne Smith as our State Representative. In her first term, she has demonstrated a tireless work ethic and commitment to collaborative government. She has turned to her constituents to learn about the issues that matter to us, and has translated our concerns into action in Concord.

As a retired Marine Corps officer, I am especially impressed by Smith's interest in veterans, with a particular focus on health care issues. She has strongly supported the establishment of a commission to study the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury suffered by New Hampshire service members and veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

She has also been instrumental in "NH Working," a program that saves employers money and provides on the job training for workers. As a result of such positive initiatives, NH's unemployment rate is currently 5.7%, one of the lowest in the country.

Smith serves as Clerk of the Environment and Agriculture Committee, whose work affects all of us, as it includes such diverse issues as land use and conservation, farming and agriculture, and waste management. If you've enjoyed a walk in NH's great outdoors, made a weekly trip to the recycling center, or visited a farmers' market, you've been a beneficiary of Smith's work.

I ask you to join me in voting to reelect Suzanne Smith on November 2.

John A. Scarborough

LtCol, USMC (Ret.)

Plymouth

@Brief head:Unethical practice

Editor, The Citizen:

I want to thank Burdett Adams for bringing up an issue that is dear to my heart. I, too, think it is unethical to use animals for our entertainment. They always get the short end of the stick in that situation.

I just wanted to thank you for bringing this to people's attention, and add my voice in agreement.

Lois Sellew

Tilton

@Brief head:Not this voter

Editor, The Citizen:

As I was reading David Stamps letter to the Editor on Thursday, October 21, 2010 I noticed that as he was reminding us about all of the millions and millions of dollars flowing into the republicans coffers from foreign countries, something that just devastates the democratic party, he failed to mention about how GEORGE SOROS has been a prominent international supporter of democratic ideals and donated millions to the democratic cause. Did you forget that David or just hoping it wouldn't be noticed.

I also noticed in your letter that you like to refer to the dictionary so I have a definition for you: Hypocrite..."a person who feigns some desirable or publicly approved attitude, esp. one whose private life, opinions, or statements belie his or her public statements".

Come November 2nd David your name will NOT receive a check mark from this voter.

William Anderson

Gilford

@Brief head:Buying votes

Editor, The Citizen:

Now President Obama, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and other democrats are trying to buy seniors' votes by proposing a $250 "bonus" instead of a social security increase.

How will a government that already borrows more than $3 billion every day pay for this bribe? More borrowing contributes to the inevitable high inflation that destroys the value of everyone's savings. Seniors remember the pain of the high inflation rates in the 1970s. Raising the money with higher taxes and fees on citizens directly or on the goods and services we buy would easily eat up the $250.

Perhaps the $250 will come from Obamacare's $500 billion Medicare funding cut which Carol Shea-Porter and Paul Hodes supported. No, that money is going to cover people who chose not to buy health insurance. So, maybe the money will come from denying seniors' expensive medical care like the European healthcare systems President Obama admires.

Remember, it is win, win, win for the government when treatment is denied and a senior dies. That reduces medical costs, stops social security payments, and may generate estate taxes. What a deal for the government!! But it is lose, lose, lose for the senior.

They say Medicare shouldn't provide extensive medical treatment that only extends life a few months on average. As President Obama says, it's probably better to just give seniors a pain killer and let them die.

But, I wonder if others, like me, know people who were told they only had a few months to live, who live actively and independently for years after treatment?

Politicians have been telling us for years how great the Medicare system is that we are forced to pay for. So, why shouldn't Medicare pay for treatments providing a chance for further worthwhile life? Should we be denied treatment and left to die just because of some doctor's guess and some averages? No.

I just figured out where the money will come from! Carol Shea-Porter and Paul Hodes and the democrat leadership refused to extend the Bush tax cuts. Therefore, the $250 will come from the $2000 to $3000 a year tax increase starting in January for average middle-class families.

We can all use extra money, but my vote is not for sale, let alone for $250 which is less than sixty-nine cents per day.

Carol Shea-Porter and Paul Hodes must not be returned to Congress. They are all smiles, but they voted for Obamacare which will kill seniors, and their outrageous deficit spending will cause inflation which will destroy the value of whatever savings people still have.

Vote for Kelly Ayotte, Frank Guinta and Charlie Bass.

Don Ewing

Meredith

@Brief head:New bus service

Editor, The Citizen:

As the Director of Tri-County CAP Transportation Division I have many people contacting me asking when the Carroll County Transit service is going to begin. I know it seems like it has been a long time in coming. But, compared to other systems that started from scratch, it hasn't been very long. To date the planning and implementation for the Carroll County system has been a little over four years. In comparison, the last public route CAP implemented took six years of planning and raising funds before it became operational. That system was comprised of only one route utilizing one bus that drove through three towns. The Carroll County System consists of three public routes and three curb to curb service areas, amounting to more than five times the service being provided in comparison to the other route.

One of the most time consuming and financially largest tasks that Tri-County CAP and the Carroll County Transit Advisory Committee did not have to conquer was raising the matching funds for the purchase of the eight buses. Fortunately, a golden opportunity presented itself through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act with funding for them at 100%. The funding amounted to $540,000. Without this funding opportunity the Carroll County Transit Advisory Committee and Tri-County CAP would have had to raise the required matching funds of $54,000 or 10% of the total cost to purchase the buses. At present we are awaiting the arrival of the buses. Their late arrival has delayed the start up of the service, but considering the financial benefit I feel it is worth the wait.

The public routes and service areas along with the fares/rates are established and are available for review on the Carroll County Transit website http://www.carrollcountytransit.info/. Our equipment for dispatching trips and a toll free number are in place and ready to use.

I ask for your patience and support realizing that Tri County CAP and the Advisory Committee are doing their best to be prepared to begin service when the vehicles arrive.

If anyone has further questions regarding the service or would like further education on how to use the services, please feel free to contact Ted LaLiberte at 323-8150 or email him at, tlaliberte@tccap.org. For updates and other information visit our website at http://www.carrollcountytransit.info/

Beverly Raymond, Director

Tri-County CAP's

Transportation Division

@Brief head:Vote Republican

Editor, The Citizen:

I'm Skip Reilly of Skip's Sport & Gun Shop in Bristol and live in Alexandria. Many of you know that I am a Republican candidate for the State House of Representatives for District 8, representing the towns of Alexandria, Ashland, Bridgewater, Bristol, Groton and Holderness.

Having been a member of the Alexandria and the Newfound School District Budget Committees for several years, I feel that I have a good understanding of budgets, of "wants and needs", and of how to hold the line on unnecessary spending. In the last four years, our legislatures have been comprised of a majority of Democrats in the State House of Representatives, State Senate along with a Democrat governor. Together they have managed to nearly ruin our beautiful State of New Hampshire.

I'm sure you are asking yourself what they have done to accomplish this horrific predicament. The increase in government employees has nearly doubled under the watch of governors Shaheen and Lynch, not to mention the increase in salaries that in many cases exceed private industry pay grade. The cost of retirement fund is nearly $7 billion in unfunded liability with no controls in place to curb the spending. New Hampshire is now one of the highest taxes states in the country. Space in this column does not allow me to list them but I know you are intelligent enough to understand the direction in which we are headed.

The worst part of all these new increased taxes is that we are looking at a $60 million dollar deficit in the next year alone. We have borrowed money to the breaking point. The State could not borrow money through normal channels so they borrowed $25 million from UNH system and then the university borrowed $25 million to replace the monies borrowed by the state.

On top of this madness, the Democrats are attempting to ban our right to carry firearms. What part of the United States Constitution is it that they do not understand?

For these reasons and many, many more I am asking for your vote on November 2nd, to represent you, the people, the taxpayers, the solid working Americans. Please vote for Skip Reilly as your State Representative as well as the other two Republicans, Paul Simard and Jeff Shackett.

With most sincere appreciation.

Harold "Skip" Reilly

Alexandria

@Brief head:Earned our vote

Editor, The Citizen:

I have seen so much good done at the local level of politics. In particular I have seen the efforts of Martha Richards, Grafton County Commissioner, and Deb Reynolds, State Senator for NH District 2. They respond to the needs of their constituents, particularly those of the middle class and those who need a voice speaking on their behalf whether it concerns jobs or assistance needed to pull individuals and families out of difficult times.

They have earned and deserve our vote.

Edith Hamersma

Holderness

@Brief head:Honest, hard-working

Editor, The Citizen:

I am endorsing Jeanie Forrester for State Senate because I have worked with her in some non-profit projects and found her honest, hard working, and found she supported my conservative thoughts on state government.

Jeanie Forrester is running against an incumbent who I believe got elected previously through various manipulations. Several years ago I was working with Carl Johnson on his District 2 run for State Senate. The district was gerrymandered for that election to change the electorate that would vote. I did not believe the present incumbent could beat Carl Johnson, but she twisted the truth and used unfair inuendo and won the election.

Carl Johnson would not play dirty and lost the election.

The incumbent now has raised money to spend on the radio and other media.

I am voting for Jeanie Forrester. I do not forget.

Bob Kennelly

Meredith

@Brief head:Conservative but sensible voice

Editor, The Citizen:

November 2nd will be for many in Laconia an important time in terms of electing a well respected conservative Republican to the legislature in Concord. Fortunately, Laconia has that type of individual in Harry Accernero. Harry brings a wealth of business and legislative experience to the political forum.

Currently as many of you know, our State is faced with a tremendous amount of debt, no thanks to the governor and the democrat controlled legislature. Recent reports indicate the State faces a $600 to $800 million dollar deficit. At this critical time, we all should be looking to individuals that will represent their constituents with honesty and integrity. Going forward the legislature must take drastic measures and make serious but well-reasoned budget decisions for the next biennium. Cuts must be made in state government along with sound solutions of reducing the existing debit without more taxes, for this is the right thing to do.

Harry Accornero is not a novice when it comes to understanding the legislative process having served in the legislature in the early 90's. Furthermore, his experience in operating his family hardware store business in tough economic times while keeping people employed, bodes well when trying to shape budget cuts while protecting critical state services.

While I live in Gilford, I continue to own real estate and operate a small business in Laconia, thus the importance for supporting a friend and a hard working family man in his quest to represent Laconia in Concord. I know for certain Harry will not only be a good steward of your money, he will also protect the economic future of your families. I hope you will favor Harry with your vote.

George Hurt

Gilford

@Brief head:Just trust our leader

Editor, The Citizen:

There was a time in history when the leader of a country would appoint people to certain jobs and titles in the government. These people did their jobs well. They were beheaded or hung or shot if they didn't. Of course, they were called dictators. We wouldn't believe something like that to be possible in America, would we?

Isle? What would we call them? Democrats? Republicans? Independents? Who knows. What I do know is this: Our president does seem to get HIS WAY A LOT! Why? Because the people love him? His plans? His policies? I don't think so because I hear a lot of people complaining. I see him raising millions of dollars for HIS PARTY instead of being home protecting OUR INTERESTS. I have wondered if some of these millions were donated to homeless people or to our welfare departments for hungry people or to people in need of fuel oil for the winter or any other GOOD purpose (maybe a cost of living increase for people on social security).

Insurance costs more. Medicine costs more. Food costs more. Everything does. Oh well. I've been told by him and others that he is a GOOD GUY. I GUESS I can trust him to do the RIGHT THING with all that money he's been collecting.